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Adam Mayes Investigation Update

By
Keli McAlister
By
kmcalister@wbbjtv.com

Story Created:
May 11, 2012 at 6:56 PM CST

Story Updated:
May 11, 2012 at 7:20 PM CST

Two of the Mississippi officers who were face-to-face with suspected killer and kidnapper Adam Mayes, Thursday, recalled in detail their interaction, during a media briefing from Jackson, Miss., Friday afternoon.

Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant opened the briefing saying that the investigation is far from over. Detectives are still working to determine if more people will face charges for helping Mayes, 35, of Guntown, Miss., evade authorities for almost two weeks.

Master Sergeant Steve Crawford of the Mississippi Highway Patrol said a tip led a team of officers to a wooded area behind Zion Hill Baptist Church just outside of New Albany, Miss. They split into two teams, each exploring the logging roads that weaved through the woods.

Along one of those roads, Master Sgt. Crawford and his team saw a blue jug that first caught their attention, then movement. "When I gazed around I could see one of the children's head on the ground," he said. "Officer Haney was the first one to holler, "Get your hands up.'" Crawford said he too began giving commands and that is when one of the girls raised her head. "The other girl picked her head up," said Crawford. "After another command, Mr. Mayes began to raise his head."

In that split second, kneeling just inches from Alexandria, 12, and Kyliyah, 8, Adam Mayes put an end to his own nationwide manhunt. "I could see a gun in his hand," said Crawford. "I hollered gun three times loud to let my team know there was a weapon involved." Crawford went on to say he and the others ordered Mayes to drop his gun several times. "Mr. Mayes raised to his knees, never brandished the gun toward any of us or the children," he explained. "At that time, he took his own life."

The sisters told the officers who rescued them they had not eaten or had water for three days. They were treated for dehydration and for poison ivy and insect bites.

But the question still remains, did someone else aid the 35-year-old in his almost two weeks on the run. His wife Teresa Mayes already stands charged with two counts of first degree murder and two counts of especially aggravated kidnapping. His mother, Mary Frances Mayes, is jailed on four counts of conspiracy to commit especially aggravated kidnapping.

Gov. Bryant eluded that more arrests could be on the way. "You've got a great team of investigators combing through the evidence to see if there was anyone who assisted in this crime," he said. "There is some evidence and information that that might be possible." Gov. Bryant said if evidence supports arrests they will be made.

But for now, the hundreds of officers who participated in the manhunt are counting the Bain sisters' rescue a win. "At the end of the day, two young ladies returned home to their father safely, as did all of our officers," said Lt. Lee Ellington of the MS Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, who also participated in the rescue.

Also still unanswered, exactly how Joann Bain, 31, and Adrienne, 14, died.

If you have information that could help as the investigation continues, call the TBI Hotline at 1-800-TBI-FIND.